Providing Hardware For Flight

Advice & F.A.Q.

RIGGING HELP

Aerial rigging is the process of setting up equipment used to make humans fly. Aerial rigging can be easy, fun, and allow you to fly in places you never thought possible! But it is a very serious and important skillset and knowledge base that cannot be taken lightly. We hope that this page will help you get started in the world of aerial rigging without giving you a false sense of safety or knowledge. Please Remember: There is NO reason to attempt an aerial rigging without the advise of an experienced and qualified rigger. Please, seek advice and help for anything you have questions about. Safety is Always your primary concern and should never be taken lightly.

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS

Here are some helpful videos for setting up your equipment. We hope they help you begin to fly!

HELPFUL RIGGING IMAGES

Bear in mind: the following rigging suggestions are here to help, and provide a starting point for you. Rigging should always be done by a certified rigger. Safety is never worth compromising in order to save time or money.

FAQ

How do I select my fabric length?

Find your rig point height then multiply it by two.
That's how long your fabric NEEDS to be.
But we recommend adding about 6ft (or two yards) to the total length to allow for some fabric on the floor.
Also, PLEASE REMEMBER to convert to YARDS if you measured in FEET. We sell our fabric by the YARD. For example a 15 foot rig point would NEED 10 yards of fabric, but we would recommend purchasing 12.
A 20ft rig point would NEED just over 13 yards, so we would recommend purchasing 15 yards total.

Do you offer teacher training?

We do offer teacher trainings as well as public workshops. If you are a studio owner and looking to advance the skill level of either your students, or teachers, we have exceptionally qualified instructors who would love to help with your program. We are able to provide the best instruction based on your studio, your students, their skill levels, and their needs.
We offer very personalized classes that are geared specifically to your studio. We love working with studio owners and helping them offer the best program they can. Please contact us for more info: info@aerialessentials.com.

How do I use pulleys?

There are two seperate ways to set up an aerial pulley system and they depend on what you are hoping to lift.
If you want to simply raise and lower your apparatus, you can just use our single aerial pulleys. However, if you want to raise and lower the aerialists during a performance, you are going to want to set up a pulley system using double pulleys. Helpful images can be found above illustrating pulley systems. We recommend 10-15mm Static Climbing Rope for our pulleys.

How long should my aerial hammock be?

You can measure your hammocks out based on height, but we typically recommend using a standard 7 yards of fabric for your hammocks and then adjusting their rig point higher or lower by using daisy chains or other means of adjustment. Also, even though you may only calculate needing 4 yards of fabric for your home hammock based on your ceiling height, we still recommend purchasing 7 yards of fabric so you have enough to tie the knots required to safely rig your hammock.

Do you offer bulk order discounts? Or studio discounts?

We do offer discounts to schools who are setting up their whole studio, and to individuals purchasing in bulk. Typically we are only able to offer between 5-10% based on the amount you purchase. Exceptions have been made in the past, but we try to keep our standard prices as low as we can which makes further discounts very difficult. Feel free to email us: info@aerialessentials.com if you are preparing a bulk order.

Whats your return policy?

Please read our FULL return policy found at the bottom of the page for a complete understanding. The quick answer is: we can exchange and return hardware if it hasn't been used within 30 days. But all fabric is all considered a custom orders (as it is cut to size) and so, baring mistakes on our end, we don't offer fabric exchanges or refunds. Please double check fabric lengths, and type before ordering. We want to make sure we are providing a product you love and would never consider returning.

Do you ship internationally?

We do ship internationally and if you have any problems ordering online please let us know. Occasionally there are minor problems using foreign credit cards or accounts - if so, please email us directly: info@aerialessentials.com
We strive to provide world class products and will do everything we can to get them out to you, no matter where you are located.

How long does shipping take?

We are usually able to process orders within 48 business hours of the initial order.
Typically, lyra are shipped with FedEx ground (taking up to 5 business days within the USA), and all other apparatus, fabric and hardware are shipped with USPS Priority mail (taking only 2-3 business days). International orders typically arrive within 12-18 business days.

How do you treat fabric burns?

Fabric burns are an unfortunate reality of aerial arts. Keep them wrapped, covered, and clean. Burns are very suseptable to slower healing and possibly infection if left uncovered and un-cleaned. Our best advice is to wrap them up tight and keep them very clean.

Whats a "standard" fabric length?

If you are purchasing a set of fabric that you want to work in multiple venues and spaces, we recommend buying 14 yards of fabric. This is a standard length of fabric that will work in most all places. It is our most common length sold.

Should I rig a single or double point hammock?

This is a personal preferance based on your yoga practice, and how you utilize the hammock. If you prefer to spin, you want a single point hammock. But if you like a rigid structure and more stable position, you will want a two point hammock for sure.

How do you wash your fabric?

Use a front loading washer and dryer with low heat and a very gentle detergent. Do not use top loading washers as they can tear the fabric very easily. Be gentle on the fabric, but feel free to wash the fabric whenever it needs it. Nobody likes training on rank fabric.

How much space do you need between each aerial point?

We recommend at least 10 feet between two aerial points, and at least 6ft away from the walls. Although you can be closer to each other, or the walls, you will probably have to adjust your aerial skills based on the room available. It is always better to have too much room, rather than not enough. Give yourself space to spin and stretch out without hitting your neighbor.

Which carabiner should I choose?

Autolocking vs Screwgate carabiners are really a personal preferance, but there are a few pros and cons that most aerialists can agree on. Screw gate carabiners are safer to rig and leave alone. They are strong, and secure with fewer moving parts. Autolocking carabiners are much better for rigging and de-rigging apparatus. They are easier to opperate with one hand and have a wider gate opening.

Can I rig my fabric from a tree branch?

Rigging from trees can be a very rewarding part of aerial training. It can also be very risky and it is very difficult to judge the inner strength of a tree by looking at it from the outside. There are many scary stories of seemingly healthy strong branches snapping under the weight of an aerialist and every tree is different. There is no "right" answer to this one, nor any fool proof way of knowing a tree will support you.

Do I want low stretch or medium stretch fabric?

If you are a beginner aerialist or you have less than 13ft ceilings, we would always recommend low stretch fabric. It is easier to learn on and without high rig points there is no reason to have medium stretch fabric. When you do have ceilings higher than 13ft and begin working with longer drops and falls, you may prefer the medium stertch fabric because it gives a nice bounce when performing. It is truly a personal preferance, but that is our two cents on the subject.